other news

In 2012, nearly 14 percent of all American households relied on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) -- the program formerly known as food stamps, according to new research from the Carsey Institute at UNH. The new research is presented in the Carsey Institute brief “SNAP Use Increased Slightly In 2012.”

The key findings are as follows:

In 2012, 13.6 percent of American households reported receiving SNAP benefits, suggesting that the multi-year trend of rising receipt rates may be slowing. This represents an increase from 13.0 percent in 2011 and 7.7 percent in 2007.

More than three quarters – 76.7 percent – of families reporting SNAP receipt in 2012 included at least one family member who was working, the same as before the recession.

Reports of SNAP receipt in 2012 increased among populations at particular risk for food insecurity, including households with children, seniors, householders with a disability, and the poor...

Cooperative Extension field and state specialists will discuss the opportunities and challenges facing New Hampshire growers at the next Cooperative Extension Issues & Ice Cream discussion Nov. 13 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the MUB, room 338. Ice cream will be served.

The campus community is invited to join the discussion, share ideas and hear how Cooperative Extension is conducting applied research in partnership with growers across the state. Extension specialists will profile projects on integrated pest management, high tunnels and specialty vegetable crops, new and emerging insect pests, and direct marketing efforts.

Extension sustainable horticulture specialist Becky Sideman, who will lead the discussion, says, “We’ll share some specific examples of our work with growers. New Hampshire is a leader in direct marketing of certain crops, and we will discuss the opportunities available to those interested in becoming growers.”

Arthij van der Veer (left), auditor of the Dutch company Milieu Project Sierteelt (MPS) Group, tours the UNH Macfarlane Greenhouses with greenhouse manager David Goudreault. MPS recently gave the Macfarlane Greenhouses an A for sustainability.

Credit: Victoria Courtland, COLSA

The Macfarlane Greenhouse facility at UNH has received the top grade for sustainability by an independent sustainability certification company. The Milieu Project Sierteelt (MPS) Group of the Netherlands facilitates a greenhouse sustainability certification...

The next Faculty Research Excellence Seminar Series takes placeTuesday, Nov. 19, from 4 – 6:30 p.m. in the Piscataqua Room at Holloway Commons where UNH scholars/researchers and experienced media professionals will present "Research and the Media," leading a discussion on the experience of translating research for consumption by a variety of audiences, the do's and don'ts, and how to be the most effective communicators.

The UNH Rosenberg Center Franchise 50 Index, which tracks publicly traded companies in the United States engaged in business format franchising, rose 2.2 percent in the third quarter of 2013, boosted by strong performance from Wendy’s.

Wendy’s was the best performing component of the Rosenberg Center Franchise 50 Index this quarter.

“Share prices of Wendy’s, the owner and franchisor of fast food restaurants in North America and internationally, shot up 46.2 percent this quarter, validating the success of the company’s brand transformation strategy. This strategy includes repositioning the company as a restaurant chain offering high quality products, new restaurant development, a new Wendy’s logo, innovative products, enhanced marketing, improved customer service, restaurant upgrades, and selling company-owned units to proven franchise owners,” said Hachemi Aliouche, co-director of the Rosenberg International Franchise Center at the Peter T. Paul College...

“The university is committed to addressing the state’s need for STEM educated college graduates and partnering to meet the needs of businesses and organizationsin the region. Ali has played an important role in advancing both of those efforts with the opening of the STEM Discovery Lab to provide STEM educational resources and classes for students and teachers in Manchester’s K-12 schools, and the opening of the Emerging Technology Center, which responds to the needs of business and industry but also gives students access to real-world experience,” said Provost Lisa MacFarlane. “We are grateful for his enthusiasm in building new opportunities in Manchester, and we are committed to continuing that work.”

The movie about President John F. Kennedy based on the book “Letters to Jackie: Condolences From a Grieving Nation” by Ellen Fitzpatrick, professor of history, will premiere nationwide on TLC at 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013. The film includes many A-list actors such as Kirsten Dunst, Anne Hathaway, Laura Linney, and Betty White.

The two-hour film “Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy” is executive produced by Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Bill Couturié’s The Couturie Company in partnership with Amblin Television. The film revisits the months following the assassination of President Kennedy, when First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy became the heart of the nation, leading its citizens – and her own children – through a dark and difficult time.

“It has been a privilege to see letters written by Americans in the days after President Kennedy’s assassination brought to life in Bill Couturie’s remarkable documentary. And I am delighted that TLC will be...

II. Remarks by and questions to the provost – Provost Lisa MacFarlane was out of town, so the chair dispensed with this portion of the meeting.

III. Remarks by and questions to the chair – The chair reported to the senate that the ADVANCE program’s faculty climate survey will be available soon, and encouraged the faculty to participate in this survey. He asked Barbara White, chair of the Student Affairs Committee (SAC), to speak about the upcoming joint dinner for the Student Senate and Faculty Senate. She invited all...

A new supercomputer at the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space (EOS) will enable leading-edge research in multiple facets of modern physics. The Cray supercomputer, the only one in New Hampshire, was made possible by a $534,977 Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award from the National Science Foundation, including $196,995 from NSF’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or EPSCoR.

Nine new assistant professors as well as a number of new teaching lecturers have joined the College of Liberal Arts' ranks this year.

The department of education has welcomed four new assistant professors this year—Jade Caines, Elyse Hambacher, Emilie Reagan, and Winston Thompson—a cadre with cutting-edge expertise particularly in the area of teaching education. The department of English has gained two assistant professors who teach in English education and linguistics, Soo Hyon Kim and Alecia Magnifico. A neuroscientist, Robert Ross, joins the department of psychology, supporting the burgeoning neuroscience and behavior major. Two additional assistant professors will join us in January: Natalie Porter, a medical anthropologist, who is finishing up postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford; and Subrena Smith, a philosopher, who is completing her doctorate at Cornell.

UNH will continue to open its doors to the business community and create new streams of revenue with the creation of UNH Innovation. UNH Innovation is about providing access to the outputs of the university.

“UNH Innovation will make the university a leading voice for innovation in the state,” said President Mark Huddleston. “Our history as a land-grant institution has always been one of providing access to the latest knowledge and research to solve the challenges facing New Hampshire and the world. UNH is committed to helping accelerate the state’s economy, and we believe this will help tremendously.”

UNH Innovation comprises licensing, what was once the university’s Office of Research Partnerships and Commercialization; services like the InterOperability Lab and equipment or facilities rentals; and ventures and economic development, with plans to create a mentorship program and increased opportunities for students to work directly with businesses.